Beet-blocking cultivator.



A. CLARK. BEBT BLOGKING CULTIVATOR. i APrLIdATIoN FILED 1120.7, 1911. 1 1,025,961 Patented May 14, 1912.

Attbrn-eys l A. CLARK. BERT BLOCKING GULTIVATOR. APPLIOATION FILED Dnc. 7, 1911.

1,025,961?. Patented May 14, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Attorneys A. CLARK. l BERT BLOGKING cuLTlvAToR. APPLICATION TILIED DEO. 7. 1911. 1,025,961 Patented May 14, 1912.

s MBBTSSHEET 3.

Witnesses A l i i Attorneys ARNOLD CLARK, 0F LATTY, OHIO.V

BEET-BLOCKING CULTIVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May it', 1912.

Application tiled December 7, 1911. Serial No. 664,417.

' 1o all whom zt may concern:

Be it known that l. ARNOLD CLARK, a. citizen of the United States. residing at Latty, in the county of Paulding and State of Chio, have invented a new and useful Beet- Blocking Cultivator, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in beet blocking cultivators, the primary objectof the invention being the pro-` vision of a motor driven cultivator adapted, to be operated atright angles t9 the row of growing beets before the thinning operation thereof, the same being provided with par allel disposed and operativemeans for blocking out the stand` whereby the desired number of plants are left standing to be finally thinned manually.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of parallel disposed spring cushioned and swinging frames, each of which is provided with coacting rotary cutters for cutting the standingplants and loosening the earth so that the plants will be prevented from again taking root,'said cutting means being so disposed as to leave standing at the proper desired distances apart the. desired plants, which are finally thinned manually, said cutters being adjustable so as to regulate the distance between the standing plants as may be desired.

A still further object of the present invn vention, is the provision of a motor driven beet blocking and cultivating mechanism,

which is adapted to be operated at right angles to the rows so as to cut a plurality of parallel swatbs thereacross and to leave standing at predetermined distances cet'tain plants in each row, thus reducing then-ianual labor of thinning and at the same time that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scopo of what is claimed without departing from 'the spirit of the invention.

ln the drawings-l `igure 1 is a top plan View of the complete cultivator. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2w-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3

is a perspective view of one of the swinging frames in which is journaled the shaft carrying the rotary blockers and cutters. Fig. It is a cross section through said frame showing the position of the cutters with relation to each other thereupon. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the casters carried by the forward free end .of each of said frames. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the transmission between the engine, intermediate and operating shafts ofthe cutters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a rectangular framework coniposed of angle irons and provided at its rear portion with the downwardly projected parallel arms 2 and 3 and with the forwardly projecting inclined plates 4, the lower ends of the arms 2 and 3 being connected by the angle plates 5 which provides a support for the various shafts of the vma-` chine and also for the explosive motor E.

Connected to the central rearportion `of the plate 2 is an eyed lug 6 in which is our* naled the stem 7 of the rear caster wheel 8 the washers 9 being provided to permit of the proper adjustment of said stem'7 so that the caster wheel may be positioned to permit the rear portion of the frame to be elevated or lowered as maybe desired.

Connected to the sides of the main frame 1 are the boxes 10 for the reception of the main axle or/shaft 11, which has connected at the respective ends thereof the traction wheels 12, the same being connected to said shaft through the. medium of the pawl and ratchet clutches 13 which are of any desired structure, but `which will permit the rotation of the wheels 12 in'a rearward direction without affecting the shaft, but which are disposed to be operated by the shaft when rotated in the direction of the arrow, as shown in Fig. 2.

Operably connected to the explosive en` gine 14 and extended in opposite directions therefrom are the two shafts 14 and' 15 carrying the small sprockets 16 and 17 respectively. Connected to the sprocket 16 is a chain 18 which transmits motion from the shaft 14 through the large sprocket 19 to the short shaft 20. Said shaft 20 is pro- 'vided with a small sprocket24 which through the niediuniof the sprocket chain 25 and the enlarged sprocket 26 conveys motion to the traction axle 11.

The Sprocket 17 carried by the shaft 15 is connected through a sprocket chain 21 45 chine throu 50 will presently appear.

tothe sprocket 22 keyed upon the shaft 23 whlch corresponds to the shaft 20 but is disposed in opposite direction thereto, said the rear and lower portion of the mainv lo frame of the 'machine Keyed -upon this shaft 27 and rotatable therewith at redetermined distances throughout the ength thereof are the large sprockets 28, the pur-r pose of which will presently appear.

Pivota'lly connected upon the respective shafts 27 are the forwardly' projecting frames 29, each one of which, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, consists of the long plates 30 composed of angle irons with the transverse connecting plates 31 and 32 and the forward castings 33. Carried by this casting 33 are the upstanding anges 34, the two pivoting lugs 35, the bail 36, the said plate or castlngl being further provided with an' aperture 37, the purpose o which will presently appear. In order to elevate and re ulate the positioning Aof the forward ee end of the respective frames 29, a chain or other flexible connection 38 is connected to the respective bails 36 of said frames at its lower-end while the upper end thereof is connected l.to the sha'ft 39 Vjournaled in the boxing 40 carried by the main framel 1 of the machine, the said shaft being provided `withthe pinion 41 which is in mesh at allv times with the sliding rack 42. This slid-4 ing rack 42 is mounted for sliding movement in the guide 43 carried by the frame 1 while at 44 it 1s connected to the forward end of the operating rod 45, said operating rod 45 being mounted for slidable movement in the bracket 46 carried by the main frame and further provided with the operating handle 47 so thatithe operator in guiding the ma`- h the medium of the handles H, may rea ily grip the handle 47 to move the rack 42 and thereby rotate the shaft 39 and simultaneously lelevate or lower the respective frames 29, the purpose of which To normally hold the rod in outward position, or more pro-perly speaking in neutral position, a spring 48 is disposed thereupon, the same holding the rack 42 in the position asclearly shown in Fig. 1.

tures 49 are provided in the forward portion of the main frame 1 which have slidably fitted therein the upper ends of the respective guide rods 50, disposed upon the guide rod between its connection to the pivoting lugs 35 and the wheel 28 ofthe shaft a spring 51 being under side of the frame 1 so as to normally exert a tension downwardly to hold -the lower free end of its respective frame 29 toward the ground. In order to limit the downward movement of the frame and thereby re late the cutting action of the. cutting angLl blocking mechanism with relation to the'standing plants, a pin 52 is passed through the aperture 37 of the respective frames 29,*the washers 53 beingdisposed thereuponso as to abut the plate upon the upper or lower side, or both, as desired to regulate Vthe adjustment of the caster 5 4 which is adapted to rest upon the ground and retain the free end of the frame 29 in the desired'relative position.

Carried 'by the plates 30 of each of the frames 2 9 intermediate of are t-he alined boxin'gs or journals 55 in which is rotatabl mounted a short shaft 56. U on onevend of the shaft 56, is keyed a sproc et 57 which is connected through its sprocket chain 58 to its respective sprocket 27. Thus the rotation simultaneously rotate.

of the shaft 27- will 'all of the sprocket' chains 58 ,and sprocket wheels 57-sothat the shafts-56 carried by the respective frames'29 will be rotated simultaneously. Mounted upon the respective shafts 56 are two bushin 59 and 60 respectively, each one of whic is provided with the respective spaced cutting arms 61 and 62 respectively, which are' disposed at proper angles with relation to each other. so as to coact in engaging the earth to cut a portion ofthe standing plants between the plates 30 of the frames 29 and leave standmg the plants disposed between the respective frames 29 below the respective sprock ets 57 and the adjacent portions of the next frame. In order to adjust the bushings 59 and their cutting blades 61 and 62 respectively upon the shaft 56 so that the swath cut willA vary according tothe desire of the operator, the set screws 63v areprovide'd. Any well known means may be interposed between the engine and the shafts 14vand 15 so that'the engine may run freely without affecting the machine, such control being laced in ready access to the operator at tieguiding handles H, the respective caster wheels 8 and 54 in conjunction with the traction wheels 12 supporting the main frame of the machine in the desired position so that the operator simply has to guide the machine with the handles H'following in the path of the same during the operation.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it is-evident that when this machine is operated at right.

angles to the rows of gro`wing plants, the respective pairs 'of cutters 61 and 62 will operate to out parallel strips of plants throughout the width of the field and by the ends thereof,'

nio

reason of the fact that the frames are spaced apart and operate independently, the plants between the res] *ective trames will he left standing, thus reeucing the thinning operation to a minimum and at the saule time to a great extentt'. hoeing the earth between the stand so as to produce the desired cultivating effect thereupon.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. .X motor driven blocking cultivator, having a frame. a motor on said framdtraction' wheels operably connected to the motor. a plurality of pivoted frames disposed in spaced relati 'n througl'iout the width of t-he main frame, the free ends thereof being projected toward the forward portion of the main'kframe, a caster wheel carried in the free end of each pivoted frame for regulating the po itioning of the Same with relation to th ground, means for simultaneously elevating the'free ends of all of said pivoted frames, a pair of rotary cutters disposed in each of said pivoted frames, and means for operably connectingr all of said cutters to the motor for operation in unison.

Q. A motor driven blockingr cultivator,

having a frame, a motor on said frame, traction ivlieels )operably connected to the motor, a mirality of pivoted frames disposed in spaced relation throughout the width -of the main frame, the free ends thereof being projected toward the forward portion of the main frame, a easter wheel carried in the free ends' o f each qpivoted frame for regulating the position of the same with relation to the gro'und, means for simultaneously elevating the free ends of all of said pivoted frames, a pair of rotarycutters disposed in each of said pivoted frames, means for operably connecting all of said cutters of the pivoted frames for operation in unison .through the motor, and a spring cushioned means interposed be tween the free end of each frame and the main frame for holding the free ends of thel pivoted frame yieldably toward the ground. A motor driven blocking cultivator,

4having a frame, a motor on said frame,

' all of said pivoted frames, a shaft journaled in each pivoted frame intermediate of` its ends, means for operably connecting all of said shafts for rotation in unison through the motor, and a pair of adjustahly mounted cutting arms connected to each shaft Within its respective pivoted frame.

4. A cultivator of this character. having a main frame, a motor carried thereby, a pair4 of traction avheels mounted in the main frame and operably connected to said motor. a plurality of swinging .frames having the rear ends thereof pivoted to the main frame, a caster adjustably mounted upon the forward free end of 4each pivoted frame for regulating the relative position thereof to the ground. manually operated means for elevating the free ends of said pivoted frames in unison. and a rotary cutting and cultivating means disposed in each of said pivoted frames and operably connected to the motor. for operation in unison, said cutting meansl being disposed within the pivoted frames and adjustable relative to each other. l,

5. A cultivator of this character. having a main frame, a motor mounted therein. traction wheels operably .connected to .said motor, a pair of handles for guiding the cultivator connected to the main frame. a plurality of pivoted frames disposed in spaced relation throughout the width of the main frame, the free ends of said frames being toward the forward portion ofv the main frame, a caster adjustably connected to the free end of each of said pivoted frames forregulating the position thereof to the ground, a shaft jonrnaled in the forward portion of the main frame. a plurality of flexible connections connected to said shaft and to the free ends of the pivoted frames, manually operated ineansI for rotating said shaft to elevate and lower the free ends of the pivoted frames in unison, and apair of rotary cutters and cultivatorsjournaled in each pivoted frame and operably connected to the motor.

6. A cultivator of this character, having a main frame, a motori mounted therein, traction wheels operably connected to said motor, a pa'ir of handles for guiding the cultivator connected to the ina-in frame, a plus rality of pivoted frames disposed in spaced relation throughout the Width of the main frame, the free ends of said frames beingv toward the forward portion of the main frame, a caster adjustably connected to the free end of each of said pivoted frames for regulating the positionP thereof to the ground, a shaft journaled in the forward portion'v of the main frame, a plurality of A fiexible connections connected to' said shaft and to the free ends of the pivoted frames.l manually operated means for rotating said shaftto elevate and lower the free ends of the pivoted frames in unison, a shaft jonrnaled in each of said pivoted frames intermediate'of its ends. means for operably connecting said shaft of the pivoted frames to the motor, and a pair of cutting and cultivating. arms carried by each shaft of the pivoted frame.

7. A cultivator of this character, having a y .main

frame, a motor mounted therein, traction wheels operably connected to said motor, 'a pair of handles for guiding the cultivator connected to the main frame,l a plurality of lpivoted frames disposed in spaced relation throughout the width of the main frame, theb free ends 'of said frames being `toward the forward portion of the vmain to the free ends of the pivoted frames, nian-4 ually operated means for rotating said shaft to elevate and lower the free ends of the pivoted frames in unison, a shaft journaled in each ofsaid pivoted frames intermediate of its ends, means for operably connecting said shaft of the pivo-ted frames to the motor, and a pair of cutting and cultivating arms carried by each shaft of the pivoted frame, each of said arms being adjustably mounted upon its respeotive shaft to regulate the width of the swath out. A

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiiXed my signature '1n the presence of two witnesses. h1 ARNOLD CLARK. niark Witnesses: V

CHARLES KEITH, BLANCHE HAVILAND. 

